Corporate Bank
of the year.
Synergy and co-operation
Rabobank Group in 2004
24 Rabobank Group Annual Report 2003
through the sale of Trust Preferred Securities to American institutional
investors.There was so much demand for these securities on the
American market that Rabobank Group could easily have attracted
more than double this amount in reserves.
Good co-operation and synergy between the various Rabobank Group
entities are essential if the market leadership ambition is to be realised.
This co-operation can be seen in product development, sales-enhancing
activities, the integration of processes and the way in which major
policy decisions and business processes are arrived at. In 2003, mutual
co-operation brought various new products to the market and produced
major cost savings, for example by optimising the procurement activities
at group level. Another form of co-operation is the sale outside the
Netherlands of the products of Rabobank subsidiaries via the sales
channels of Rabobank International. Further definition of effective
co-operation remains one of the main priorities for 2004.
Further growth of the activities of Rabobank Group is absolutely
necessary, both in terms of quantity (more clients, more members and
better financial figures) and quality (more satisfied clients, more knowl
edge, better internal and external performance and greater member
engagement).The priorities in the Strategic Framework should provide
for that growth. In 2003, successful steps were taken on course to
market leadership in the Netherlands. In 2004, Rabobank Group will
continue on that course.The collaboration agreement concluded with
Eureko/Achmea at the beginning of 2004 was an important step in that
direction.The agreement provides for a 5% interest in Eureko's capital,
mutual management participation and the sale by Interpolis of Zilveren
Kruis Achmea health care insurance policies via the local Rabobanks and
via Interpolis' own distribution channel.
dj Rabobank named 'Corporate Bank
=s of the year' for the corporate sector.
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CM